Apparatus for handling invalids and others.



T. B. WASLEY. APPARATUS FOR HANDLING INVALIDS AND OTHERS.

APPLICATION mum mmaa, 1914. 1 ,1 22,825. Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

s SHEETS-SHEET1 wi/tweomo THE NORRIS PETERS co FHOTO-L!THU.. WASHINGTON. D. c

%Hmaoow T. E. WASLEY. APPARATUS FOR HANDLING INVALIDS AND OTHERS.

PP IG '1 1,122,825. A L A ION FILED JAN 23 1914 Dec. 29,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HE NORRIS PETE/E5 LU, PHDTL LITHH, WASHINGTON D. l

T. E. WA SLEY. APPARATUS FOR HANDLING INVALIDS AND OTHERS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 23, 1914.

1 ,1 22,825, Patented Dec. 29, 19 14.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHDTU-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. R'C.

THOMAS E. WASLEY, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING INVALIDS AND OTHERS.

Application filed January 23, 1914.

To all whom it may concern: 7

' Be it known that I, THOMAS E. WAsLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Jose, in the county of Santa- Clara and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Apparatus for Handling Invalids and Others, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus for handling invalids and others; and the objects and nature of the invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art in the light of the following explanation of the accompanying drawings illustrating what I now believe to be the preferred embodiment or mechanical expression of the invention from among other formations, arrangements and constructions within the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention consists in certain novel features in construction and in combinations and arrangements as more fully and particularly set forth and specified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:Figure 1, is a perspective view of the apparatus as in use. Figs. 2, and 3, are

detail views. Fig. +1, is anen d elevation ofthe apparatus. Fig. 5, is an end elevation showing the apparatus collapsed or folded for moving about the room or from room to room. Fig. 6, is a detail vertical. section of a portion of a supporting leg or upright of an arch or supporting frame. Fig. 7 is a perspective showing details of the actuating motor, its support and transmission gearing, Figs. 8 and 9, are perspective views of brackets and'pulleys carried there'- by. Fig. 10, is a detail view of the top or longitudinal beam of a flat arch or supporting frame.

The apparatus of this invention is particularly designed for safely and conveniently handling very weak, unconscious, or

exceedingly ill patients in lifting them from their beds or from the bed to a chair and back, or from the bed to a bath and back, and for otherwise handling patients without injurious discomfort to the patient and Without strain and excessive labor of the nurses and attendants.

To these ends, I provide a portable apparatus adapted to be moved along the floor to a position over the bed containing the patient to be elevated, and carrying series Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

Serial No. 813,943.

of flexible hoisting connections depending therefrom and adapted to be attached to a pad or mat-tress placed under the patient, and provided with winding or other hoisting apparatus for actuating said connections to raise and lower the pad with the patient thereon and to hold the pad in a fixed horizontal plane while the apparatus is being rolled along the floor to and from the position where the patient is to be lowered into a chair, a bath, a bed or for other purposes.

In the particular example illustrated, the apparatus comprises a frame work of vertical legs or supports connected by elevated longitudinal or horizontal beams, all mounted on supporting wheels or rollers adapted to travel along the floor.. The vertical supports are of greater length than the height of the bed and the longitudinal beams are of greater length than the bed so that the apparatus canextend longitudinally of and over the bed with the vertical supports beyond the ends of the bed. I show this frame work composed of'four trestles or flat arches preferably composed of tubing of the requisite strength and rigidity embodying screw threaded pipe lengths united byscrew thread,- ed unions. These four frame units, arches or trestles are parallel, and preferably arranged in pairs, the frame units of a pair being spaced a distance apart, while the two pairs of frame units are spaced adistance apart approximately equal. to the width of the bed. The two outer frame units A, are preferably similar, and the two inner frame units B, are preferably similar. Each frame unit A, consists of a horizontal top bar 1 of greater length than the bed and preferably consisting of one or more straight pipe lengths, and vertical supporting legs fixed to the ends of the top bar 1, and mounted on and carried by supporting wheels or castors 2. Each vertical supporting leg is extensible and preferably composed of a tubular rigid top section 8, united to the top bar 1, by suitably screw threaded union 4, and a bottom section 5, fitting within the section 3, and slid-able longitudinally thereof for adjusting the elevation of the top bar 1. Suitable means can be provided for securing the supporting leg sections 3 and 5, together in the desired adjustment, although in the present' instance, I show the section 5 formed With a longitudinal series of perforations, sockets or bolt holes 6, adapted to receive a securing pin or bolt 7, carried by section 3. By loosening the bolts 7 of a frame unit, said unit can be adjusted vertically on its two leg sections 5, and can then be secured in the desired adjustment by tightening the bolts or screws 7. braces 8, can be arranged between the end portions of the top'bar 1, and the lower portions of the fixed leg sections 3, and these braces can be rigidly secured to these parts through the medium of suitable unions or brackets 9, 10. The frame units B, are usually of the same construction as the frame units A, with the exception of the stiffening braces 8, inasmuch as the frame units B are usually not provided with the stiffening braces 8, but are provided with supporting rollers or castors 2, and vertically extensible supporting legs or uprights and stiff rigid longitudinal top bars 1, preferably in the same horizontal plane as the top bars 1, of the frame units A. These several frame units are connected together and held properly spaced by suitable cross connections.

' For instance, I show the four frame units connected together at their ends or upper corners by cross rods or connections 11, while atone end of the frame work the legs or uprights are connected together and spaced by a cross connection 12, while at the opposite end the legs or uprights are connected together and spaced by rotary winding Shaft The shaft 13, is carried by and mounted in suitable brackets 14, fixed to the lower end portions of the rigid leg sections 3, at one end of the apparatus. This winding shaft is 7 provided with winding drums 15, adjacent each leg. Flexible hoisting connections such as light small chains 16, are secured to and adapted to wind on the drums 15, and to extend upwardly from these drums over guide pulleys 17,arranged at the upper corners of the frame units and from thence longitudinally of said units to guide and supporting pulleys 18 from which said connections depend for attachment to the pad or mattress arranged to support the patient. The lower ends of the hoisting connections are provided with suitable hooks 19, or other means for detachably coupling the connections to the mattress or pad.

I In the particular example illustrated, I show each frame unit carrying a pair of the hoisting connections 16, depending therefrom at different points along the length of the unit to couple with or into different parts of the edge portions of the pad or niattress. The two outside frame units A, each carry a pair of hoisting chains 16, that are arranged to couple or attach to the opposite end edges of the pad or mattress, while one of the frame units B carries a pair of hoisting chains 16, arranged to couple to intermediate portions of one side edge of the pad If so desired, stiffening mattress. The hoisting chains carried by 76 the outer side frame or arch units A,. are hence applied to the ends of the pad or mattress, the chams from one unit A belng coupled to the opposite end portions at oneside of the longitudinal center of the pad and those from the other unit A, to the end portions of the pad at the opposite side of said longitudinal center. These chains from the units A, are preferably provided with forked, double or diverging free ends 20, each having an attaching hook so that each chain can be attached to a corner ofthe pad and to anend edge of the pad at apoint intermediate the corners of said end.

Eachframe or arch unit is preferably provided with a pair of the pulleys 17, alined on one shaft projecting laterally from and fixed to the end angle union of the unit over the winding shaft, to carry the pair of chainssupported by such unit. The pulleys 18, from which the free ends of the chains of a frame unit hang, are arranged at different points along the top bar of such units and are mounted on shafts fixed to and projecting laterally from unions or brackets 21, fixed to or on said top bar. The severalpulleys '17, of the apparatus are preferably all.

alined, and the corresponding pulleys 18, of the frames A, are preferably alined, while the corresponding pulleys 18, of the frames B, are also aline r In the particular example illustrated, the

winding drums 15, are arranged in pairs arranged adjacent to the adjacent legs of the frame units, respectively, to separately receive the chains carried by said units. This double winding drum arrangement can be providedfor-by forming each drum with a pair of separated chain receiving grooves or depressions 15 Any suitable means can be provided for a rotating the winding shaft in either direction for simultaneously winding the chains or their drums and for. unwinding the same therefrom, and for holding the shaft against rotation to maintain the pad and its load at any desired elevation within the range of movement of the apparatus. For instance, I show'the shaft provided with worm gear or wheel 22, rigid therewith, and a driving worm or screw 23, in constant driving mesh withjsaid wheel. This worm is rigid with a drlve shaft 24:, provided with any suitable support and adapted to be rotated in either i direction by any suitable means. For instance, I show a suitable bracket 25, fixed to one or more frame units and carrying an electric motor 26,for actuating said drive shaft. This motor is preferably of the reversible type so as to drive its shaft in either direction and is provided with a suitable controlling switch 27,usually so arranged as I to snap or otherwise maintain itself in its various adjustments or positions against accidental displacement.

The worm gear can be actuated to rotate the winding shaft at the desired slow speed in either direction and yet said gear will hold the shaft against rotation when the driving power is discontinued and hence will hold the pad and its load at the desired elevation while'the apparatus is being rolled along thefioor to and from the bed to convey the patient carried by-the pad held suspended by the chains.

It is desirable to render the apparatus collapsible to permit passage thereof through comparatively narrow doors, for storing and other purposes. To accomplish this result, I provide the opposite side pairs of frame or arch units with the units of each pair fixedly spaced apart and secured together by the various cross connections herein before described, while I render the portions of these connections that oin said pairs, extensible or collapsible so that in case of need said pairs can be moved toward each other to reduce the width of the apparatus as a whole. For instance, the winding shaft between the two opposite side pairs of frameunits can be composed of two shaft lengths hinged together at 28, at their meeting ends approximately centrally between the frameunits B and at their outer ends hinged at29, to the shaft lengths forming the opposite end portions of the shaft. These shaft sections are so 'pivotally joined that the two central lengths can buckle or break upwardly and fold approximately together toggle-link or elbow fashion. When the apparatus is in operative position and adjustment tliese'pivotally joined central shaft lengths can be locked'in the straight line of the shaft by a suitable sleeve 29, slipped over the central hinge or joint and secured by one or more set screws 30.

Each cross rod or connection 11, is" correspondingly formed with central pivotally jointed folding or collapsible sections 11*, and a longitudinally adjustable locking sleeve 11", having securing screws or other means. When the apparatus is in operative position these jointed sections are locked in extended straight adjustment holding the frame units properly spaced and braced.

llhen the apparatus is to be folded or collapsed, the sleeves 29, and 11 are released and slipped from the center hinge joints of the shaft and connections, and said jointed sections of the shaft and connections are then broken upwardly so that when the pairs of frame units are pushed toward each other said sections will fold upwardly as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

The endlengths of the shaft and cross bars 11, that connect and space the pairs of units A, B, can be removable therefrom if so desired, so that the apparatus can be knocked down and the frame units packed or stored closely together or arranged for convenient shipment.

Any suitable patient-supporting pad or mattress, such as 33, can be provided to receivethe patient. This pad is preferably provided with edge eyes 3st, or the like for the attachment of the hooks of the hoisting connections. However my present invention is not limited to any particular patient re ceiving pad or mattress.

It is evident that various changes, modifications, and variations might be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the exact disclosure hereof but consider myself entitled to all such changes as fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

lVhat I claim is i 1. Apparatus of the type substantially as set forth comprising a series of spaced parallel frame units, each having vertically-extensible end supporting legs having supporting wheels'and a longitudinal connecting bar, pulleys arran ed along said bar at clifferent points, horizontal shafts carried by said bar and supporting said pulleys, cross connections oining and spacing said several units, flexible hoisting connections arranged longitudinally of said units respectively, and carried thereby and guided by the pulleys thereof, said connections having free ends depending from the bars of the units and at their lower ends formed for attachment to a pad, and winding means for said connections and carried by said units.

2. Apparatus of the type substantially as set forth comprising a series of parallel spaced frame units, each having end supporting legs and a longitudinal connecting bar, extensible cross connections joining and determining the .sp cing of said units, flexible hoisting connections arranged longitudinally of said units and supported thereby and depending therefrom for attachment to a pad, and winding means common to all of said chains and carried by said units.

3. Apparatus of the type substantially as described, comprising two spaced parallel pairs of opposite-side longitudinal frame units, the units of each pair being spaced a relatively short distance apart, connecting means between and spacing the units of each pair, and collapsible connecting means between the pairs for normally holding the pairs rigidly spaced, and whereby said pairs can be moved toward each other, winding means carried by said several frame units, and series of flexible hoisting connections coupled to and actuated by said Winding means and extending along and carried by said units and having free ends depending therefrom.

4:. Apparatus substantially as described, comprising a portable frame Work composed of a series of spaced parallel connected frame units, each unit composed of depending end legs and an elevated longitudinal bar fixed thereto and carried thereby and provided at different points throughout its length with horizontal shafts provided with pulleys, a Winding shaft arranged at one end of the frame Work and traversing all of said, units and carried thereby and provided-With Winding drums adjacent to said units, respectively, flexible hoisting connections secured to and adapted to Wind on said drums and extending longitudinally of the units and supported by said pulleys and having free ends depending from "said bars of the units, and a pad adapted to have said free ends coupled to its edge portions.

- 5. An apparatus for the purposes substantially as set forth comprising a frame Work composed of a series of longitudinal frame units, said units carrying pulleys at intervals for supporting the hereinafter mentioned hoisting means, collapsible cross connections between and spacing said units, a collapsible Winding shaft common to all of said units and arranged transversely thereof at one end of said frame Work, and hoisting connections connected to and operated by said shaft and extending there.- from along and longitudinal of said units and supported thereby and depending therefrom, said apparatus being collapsible to folded position by movement of said frame units toward each other on collapse of said connections and said shaft.

6. Apparatus of the type substantially as set forth, comprising two spaced parallel pairs of opposite side longitudinal frame units, a Winding shaft carried by said frame units, a Worm gear drive for said shaft whereby the same will be locked against rotation when the drive is at rest, and series Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the flommission'er of Patents,

of flexible hoisting connections connected theretoand extending longitudinally of said,

tially as described comprising tWo pairs of spaced parallel frame units, the units of each pair being held a fixed distance apart by rigid'cross connections each having end supporting legs and a longitudinal connecting bar, cross connections joining said pairs of units, said cross connections being longitudinally collapsible and provided with means for normally locking them in extended operative adjustment whereby the said frame units may be spaced apart for operation or brought together for storage purposes, flexible hoisting connections arranged longitudinally of said units and supported thereby and depending therefrom for attachment to a pad, and Winding means common to all of said hoisting connections and carried by said units.

Elk-Apparatus of the type substantially,

asv set forth comprising, parallel spaced frame units, each" having end supporting legs and a longitudinal connecting bar, collapsible connecting means between the frame units, comprising, rods broken at their longitudinal centers, two arms pivotally joined together, said arms having their ends pivotally connected to the broken-ends of said connecting rods, and "a sleeve 'adjustably mounted upon said arms whereby said arms are held rigid When extended, flexible hoisting connections arranged longitudinally of said units and supported thereby and depending therefrom for attachment to a pad, and Winding means common to all of said hoisting. connections and carried by said units.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

. THOMAS E. WASLEY.

-VVithesses: J. K. Moonn,

HERBERT E. PICK.

Washington, D. G. 

